Child Abuse Watch Maldives

Child Sex Offenders Bill sent to Committee

2009-07-08T00:39:00.002+06:00

MPs today voted unanimously to send a bill calling for harsher punishments for child sex offenders to committee for further review.The legislation proposed by Kulhudhufushi South MP Mohamed Nasheed would suspend the right to silence, extend detention periods during investigation and relax admissibility and standards of evidence.Further, it would introduce longer jail terms, ranging between 14 to

Runaway girls arrive in Male'

2009-07-01T03:41:00.003+06:00

A pair of Maldivian stepsisters, aged 11 and 13, who ran away from home in India to flee their abusive father, arrived in Male’ last night, according to the girls’ relatives. The girls lived with the 11-year-old’s father and the 13-year-old’s mother in Trivandrum; they ran away after being severely beaten by the father last week, and were directed to the Maldivian consulate.“An 11-year-old wouldn

Mother arrested for sexually abusing son

2009-06-30T19:30:00.000+06:00

An eight-year-old boy who was sexually abused by his mother is being denied care by other islanders on Lhaviyani atoll Hinnavaru, because they are concerned he is too sexually experienced, an official reported.The boy's 40-year-old mother was arrested on Sunday, said Councillor Adam Yusuf, and neighbours believe the boy was sexually molested for over a year. “It seems that the mother was having

30 year old man abuse 8 year old girl - Thoddoo

2009-06-30T10:53:00.003+06:00

A 30 year old man living in Thoddoo of Alifu Alifu atoll is reported to have broken into a room and sexually abused an 8 year old girl sleeping in the room. The police are investigating the matter and the man is under police arrest.While he was abusing the child, she woke up and he dashed out of the room. The mother who was also sleeping in the same room woke up to the sound, and is said to have

18 year-old woman gang raped

2009-06-30T01:46:00.001+06:00

An 18-year-old woman was raped by three men, aged between 24 to 28, on a beach on Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Vaadhoo on Friday, according to police.The victim went missing at 3pm and at nightfall, when her family went to look for her, they found her on a beach, according to her mother. Speaking to Minivan News, the woman said she was called by her boyfriend who asked her to meet him, but when she arrived

Runaway Child sent back to the Father

2009-06-29T11:06:00.003+06:00

We have learnt that a teenage girl who accused her father of having abused her has been handed back to her father, after she ran away from home and was taken under the care of the Maldivian Consulate in Trivandrum. The details of the case are not clear.The mother of the girl informed that when the authorities were contacted she was told she needed to buy the tickets, and they would arrange for

Country unites to end child abuse

2009-06-23T11:20:00.002+06:00

Minivan News report:A march against child abuse united around 500 parents, politicians, NGOs and young people in the capital Male’ on Saturday, while a separate march was held in Haa Alifu atoll Hoarafushi the day before.The rallies were organised independently of each other by local NGOs and civilians, galvanised to take action following cases of child abuse on each of the islands over the past

Rally held to protest against child abuse

2009-06-22T22:36:00.003+06:00

Haveeru Online wrote:A rally was held in Malé on Saturday to protest against the increasing number of child abuse cases in the country and to demand stricter penalties for child abusers. A petition was signed by the participants and President Mohamed Nasheed also participated in the march.During the rally, organized by several NGOs, the participants called on the People’s Majlis to establish a

"Sir Also Did it to Me"

2009-06-21T02:33:00.000+06:00

Dr. Abdulla Waheed writes:The recent incident in Huvarafushi where a tuition teacher molested a 14-year-old boy highlights how often child abusers take advantage of their position as teachers, which automatically inspires trust especially if they teach certain respected subjects. But in this particular case the accused is a math teacher.Mohamed Idrees, Saamaraage, Huvarafushi, allegedly took the

Rally for the Prevention of Child Abuse

2009-06-19T06:50:00.000+06:00

NGOs and concerned members of the Civili Society along with other stakeholders are organizing to call for an end to child abuse, to take immediate action and to bring to the attention of the government and the parliament, the urgency of legal and institutional mechanisms that need to be put in place for the prevention of child abuse in Maldives.A peaceful procession will start at 4 o'clock on

Paedophile attack sparks awareness march

2009-06-19T03:06:00.002+06:00

Minivan News reports:An eight-year-old boy was sexually and physically abused by the driver of a van which the boy was washing, on Haa Alifu atoll Hoarafushi, according to several sources.A group of three islanders saw the van in an empty parking lot and found the boy being assaulted by Hussain Naseer, 21, said Ibrahim Adam, a local mechanic from Hoarafushi.Police say they were informed by the

Criminal past of dead baby's mother revealed

2009-06-19T02:14:00.000+06:00

A mother accused of beating her eight-month-old baby boy to death had a long history of criminal activity, according to both police and the prosecutor general’s office.Nooruzaadha Ali, 28, from Addu atoll Hithadhoo, was arrested twice in 2002, once for sexual misconduct and the second time for prostitution, said Deputy Prosecutor General Hussein Shameem. She was sentenced to eight months house

Whose fault is it?

2009-06-15T00:55:00.001+06:00

Minivan News reports:A former member of the parole board has blamed the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) for the recent death of an eight-month-old baby, who was beaten to death.Aminath Eenas told Minivan News today that one of the suspects, the baby’s mother, Nooruzaadha Ali, 28, from Addu atoll Hithadhoo, had been serving a sentence for drug abuse when she was given

Nasheed MP, Propose Child Offenders Bill

2009-06-15T00:37:00.004+06:00

Nasheed writes in his blog:The 35 page bill, containing 62 provisions, does several things.It defines at least 18 different acts as “child sex offences” and prescribes comparatively harsher penalties – with jail terms ranging between 14 years and 25 years without the possibility of bail, parole or early release. It provides harsher penalties for offenders who abuse and molest children while being

Eight-month-old baby beaten to death

2009-06-13T01:06:00.000+06:00

Minivan News writes:An eight-month-old baby boy who had been severely beaten by his mother and her boyfriend died this afternoon in the intensive care unit of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).Addressing press this morning, Inspector Hamdhoon Rasheed, head of the police investigation unit, said initial test results revealed the baby had extensive injuries, and also showed signs of having

Man arrested for sexually abusing step-daughter

2009-06-10T22:11:00.000+06:00

Minivan News reports:A man from Noonu atoll Manadhoo was taken to police custody on Tuesday for sexually abusing his step-daughter, according to a police official. Sergeant Jamsheed Ali, station inspector, said the case was filed on Monday by the 15-year-old girl’s family and the Children’s Service Centre (CSC).Ibrahim Rasheed, assistant manager of Noonu atoll hospital, said a medical examination

Police Arrest Eight Paedophiles: by Minivan News

2009-05-16T14:01:00.002+06:00

Police have arrested eight paedophiles in two separate incidents involving the sexual abuse of two girls, aged three and ten.Addressing press today, Inspector Mirufath Faiz, head of the police family and child protection unit, said the ten-year-old girl from Haa Dhaalu atoll Naivaadhoo had been repeatedly sexually abused by her father, uncle and four family friends since the age of five.The girl’

HRCM holds consultation on trafficking

2009-05-14T17:01:00.002+06:00

Minivan News 13 May 2009: The Human Rights Commission Maldives (HRCM) held a national consultation on women and child trafficking yesterday at its offices.The objective of the consultation was to prepare a paper to review the SAARC Convention on Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution. The meting was held jointly with the International Organisation for

Sexual Abuse of Daughters: reported by Miadhu

2009-05-01T12:24:00.004+06:00

Miadhu 1 May 2009:Maldives Police Services have revealed that they have commenced investigations in to allegations of sexual abuse of 2 daughters by the father.At the Thursday Police media briefing held at Shaheed Hussain Adam Building, Head of Family and Child Protection Unit of Maldives Police Services Inspector Mirufath Faiz said the case of 68 year old Hussain Adam of White Rose of Hdh

Child Abuse continues...

2009-04-18T23:13:00.002+06:00

Minivan News 16 April 2009Maryam Omidi:A 54-year-old man was arrested yesterday for sexually assaulting a 14-yar-old boy in an abandoned house on Seenu atoll Hulhudhoo. Police conducted a small operation to arrest Ali Futha from Hulhudhoo following a tip-off from a member of the public.Although he does not have a criminal record, police suspect Futha of being involved in sexually abusing four

Maldivians in Defense of Paedophiles

2009-04-10T11:15:00.004+05:00

Yesterday I was sitting in ALFresco for a coffee with some of my coffee-cafe-colleagues when the subject of the protest against Naseem So for giving tuition to children at his house came up. These were men who had fought bitterly for reform and rights and for decocracy and human rights in this country. The men felt that what NOOR was doing now amounted to undue harassment of a law abiding citizen

Petition calls for harsher penalties for paedophiles: Minivan

2009-04-10T01:20:00.000+05:00

9 April 2009Maryam OmidiOver 600 people have signed a petition calling for the harshest penalties available for paedophiles. But organisers of the petition have come under attack for targeting one specfic convicted paedophile as part of their campaign.The petition, started by organisation NOOR, is part of a wider campaign to raise awareness about paedophilia and will be presented to parliament

Group gathers near convicted pedophile’s house: Haveeru

2009-04-09T15:01:00.002+05:00

Haveeru DATE: 2009-04-09A group of people gathered outside the house of a man who was convicted of sexually abusing several young children some years ago, protesting against the fact that the man was tutoring children at his house.Jennifer Latheef, leading activist of a group named “Noor” which tries to create awareness about relevant issues in the country, said that the objective of the protest

Petition to Increase Punishment for Paedophiles: Miadhu

2009-04-09T08:57:00.003+05:00

A petition to be sent to parliament saying that the punishment for the child sex abuse offenders are too lenient and which calls the Parliament to increase the punishment, had gained 600 signatures. The petition is organized by the “Noor”.Jenifer Latheef one of the organizers says that while the number of cases had been increasing the punishment for the heinous crime is far too lenient. She also

The Effort to Uncover the Paedophile Ring continues

2009-03-27T11:43:00.002+05:00

Haveeru has reported that another man who sexually abused young children has been caught by the Maldives Police Service. He is reported to have in his possession, a photograph of a young boy who was sexually abused by Paedophile Fazeel.The man, Iqbal Mohamed Hussain of Shaviyani Maroshi, was caught by the police after breaking into a room where he was having sex with a Bangladheshi 18 year old,

Child's life wrecked by paedophile rapist

2009-03-26T00:36:00.002+05:00

Minivan News 25th March 2009Maryam Omidi and Ibrahim Mohamed write:A six-year-old girl, who was repeatedly raped, is now paralysed from the waist down and has developed a brain tumour which has led to blindness.She is currently receiving radiation therapy following the removal of half of the tumour at Apollo hospital in Sri Lanka.Police sergeant Ahmed Shiyam has confirmed a man was arrested in

MP proposes harsher punishments: by Minivan News

2009-03-25T23:49:00.001+05:00

Minivan News 24th March 2009Maryam Omidi writes:A ground-breaking bill presented to Majlis yesterday suggests criminalising paedophilia and punishing perpetrators with harsher sentences; but one critic has slated the proposed law for being incomplete.Ibrahim (Ibra) Ismail, leader of the Social Liberal Party, who presented the bill, said he was galvanised into taking action following the arrest of

Bill Submitted to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse: Miadhu Report

2009-03-24T18:37:00.001+05:00

Maidhu Online report24th March 2009:Male’ MP Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) has submitted a draft bill to the People’s Majlis on Monday calling on the government to provide harsh punishment to those who sexually abuse children. The bill also proposes that such sentences may not be lightened.In presenting the bill, Ibra said that he had, in the past, attempted to submit a similar bill and that he was

Child Right’s Law and Juvenile Delinquency: by Dr. Waheed

2009-03-13T11:11:00.001+05:00

Dr. Waheed writes:Since 1991, when the Law on the Rights of Children was passed, crimes among children under 18 have skyrocketed. There are reasons to believe that this increase is not a mere coincidence and that the law is at least partially responsible for the rising trend of juvenile delinquency. Why then did the Maldives pass such a law and what have been its effects on criminal activity

Is Islam the Cause of Paedohpilia in Maldives?

2009-03-11T23:19:00.003+05:00

The question has crossed my mind several times - in fact every time there is a report of sexual child abuse in the local media, and the subsequent comments when it is posted on this blog and CAWM group wall on Facebook.The accusation is that it is Islam that promotes sexual child abuse and that it is inspired by Prophet Muhammadh S.A.W's marriage to Aisha R.A.The Islam that I know and believe in

Politics or Homophobia? :by Dr. Waheed

2009-03-10T21:19:00.002+05:00

Dr. Abdulla Waheed writes:Pedophilia of any hue, be it heterosexual, homosexual or incestuous, is a heinous crime that must be condemned in the strongest words and punished with the harshest penalties. There is no dearth of any of these varieties of sexual abuse of children in the Maldives. However, the homosexual variety appears to be singled out for public outrage.Currently there are fast

The gang rape of a 17-year-old girl on Gaaf Alif Gemanafushi has led to the arrest of four men: by Naish from Minivan News

2009-03-10T00:08:00.000+05:00

The gang rape of a 17-year-old girl on Gaaf Alif Gemanafushi has led to the arrest of four men.Police received reports of the girl’s disappearance on Wednesday night and conducted joint search activities with islanders. She was found coming out of the woods near her house at 9.45pm the following night.Police questioned the girl after she was found and made the arrests based on information she

Police Arrest two men who Sexually abuse several Young Boys: Haveeru News Report

2009-03-07T13:14:00.004+05:00

Police on Thursday said that they had arrested two people who had been sexually abusing a large number of young boys.The two men are Moosa Ismail, 40, and Ahmed Ibrahim, 33 and Police said that the two had been arrested in two separate cases. Last month Police had captured another pedophile, Hussain Fazeel, 38, who had had sexual relationships with a large number of young boys and had kept an

One in Five girls is Sexually abused: by Omidi from Minivan News

2009-03-01T09:38:00.002+05:00

One in five schoolgirls has been sexually abused at least once in her lifetime, according to the country’s first large-scale study on physical and emotional punishment, and sexual abuse of children.The study asked 1,911 students in grade eight or above a series of questions on adult behaviour towards them, including whether an adult had ever touched them in a way that they did not want. In total,

HRCM describes paedophile case as "appalling": by Omidi from Minivan News

2009-02-25T13:40:00.001+05:00

The Human Rights Commission Maldives (HRCM) has condemned the alleged sexual abuse of more than 35 underaged boys by a paedophile, arrested on 13 February.The commission described the abuse by Hussain Fazeel, 38, as “appalling” and has called for an immediate investigation of this case.Fazeel was arrested after police found a large number of pictures and videos of him having sex with boys as

Unpunished Paedophiles Roam Free: by Shazra from Minivan News

2009-02-23T13:37:00.001+05:00

A paedophile who had abused 35 children was arrested in January this year – when the news became public last week it sent shockwaves through the Maldives.In a country where one in every six women has been abused before the age of 15, it is rare to find a person who has escaped this social scourge. And yet, we still express surprise when we hear about child abuse.In the latest and unprecedented

Paedophile Arrested in Male'

2009-02-21T10:59:00.004+05:00

A man who had long term homosexual relations with 35 underage persons has been arrested.Addressing the media at Thursday’s press conference, Inspector Ismail Athif of the serious and organized crime unit, said Hussein Fazeel, 38, of Veyruge of K.Viliingili , was arrested on the 11th of January this year, in a special operation conducted after the police had received information of an illegal

How we fail to protect our children: by Shauna, Minivan News

2008-11-23T19:55:00.002+05:00

Minivan News: 22nd November 2008I commend the work done by the NGOs to raise awareness on child abuse in the Maldives.But the government's enforcement agencies should feel ashamed of themselves for their failure to at the very least provide a safe environment for victims.As I write this, six men who gang-raped a girl at the end of August and then confessed to police remain free.They are now

Law Does Not Fully Protect Children: AG

2008-11-20T18:23:00.001+05:00

Minivan News: 19th November 2008At a hand-holding event held to raise awareness of child abuse, Attorney General Dhiyana Saeed on Wednesday said that full legal protection is not currently given to protect the rights of children.Speaking along with other cabinet ministers on World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, she also said research and awareness was needed to combat the problem.The

NGOs write to President Nasheed

2008-11-17T12:21:00.002+05:00

Miadhu Online : 17th November 2008Five NGOs has sent a letter to President Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) urging him not to pardon any inmates serving time in jail for child abuse.President Nasheed after his success in the country’s first ever multiparty presidential elections has publicly declared that he will review cases of each every inmate serving time in Jail and will provide leniency where ever

The Suffering of Gang Rape Victim continues...

2008-11-10T12:56:00.003+05:00

Minivan News 8th November 2008:Just over two months ago, Shareefa Abdul Kareem’s 14-year old daughter was grabbed by a group of six men when she was walking home on her small, sleepy island in Noonu atoll.Dragging her to an isolated beach, four of the men violently raped her, to the extent where she needed hospital treatment for three days.Despite confessing their actions to police, five of the

Gang Rapists free on Victim's Island

2008-10-20T23:40:00.001+06:00

Minivan News 13th October 2008A group of men who confessed to gang-raping a fourteen year old on Noonu atoll Holhudhoo last month have been released and have threatened the girl they will carry out a repeat attack.Police say the release of the six men was due to a court order and have said the case is still under investigation. They refused to say where the men were being detained

Prosecutor General expresses concern over sexual abuse case delay

2008-10-08T02:44:00.005+06:00

Miadhu News Online reports,The Prosecutor General has expressed conern over the delays at the Criminal Court, of the sexual abuse case of daughter by Adnan Hussain. He was formerly a director at the President's Office.The Prosecutor General's Office said that the case has been investigated and submitted to the Criminal Court for prosecution. PGO also said that the case was investigated and sent

Listen to Children, says High Court Judge

2008-10-07T02:18:00.002+06:00

Jersey Evening Post reports:A HIGH Court judge has spoken of the importance of a community taking notice of the stories of victims in historical child abuse cases as a way of moving forward.The Hon Sir Ernest Ryder, a High Court Judge of the Family Division, was formerly Counsel to the North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal of Inquiry from 1996 to 1998. He was in the Island on Friday as the principal

Child Molestation Cases Triple

2008-09-12T03:37:00.002+06:00

Haveeru Online DATE: 2008-09-11 The number of child sexual abuse cases reported to the Ministry has tripled during the last year when compared to the records of the previous years, the Gender Ministry has revealed.In a report released to the public last Monday, the Gender Ministry revealed that 97 cases of child sexual abuse had been filed with the Ministry during last year. Out of those 12

Rape of fourteen year old girl on Holhudhoo

2008-09-07T00:22:00.001+06:00

Haveeru Online reports:Police have arrested four teenage boys who raped a 14-year-old girl in Noonu atoll Holhudhoo and arrested two other teenagers for involvement in the crime, the Maldives Police Service has said. [....]"According to the doctor’s report, the girl had suffered very serious injuries at the hands of the attackers,” Mannaan said. “She is still undergoing treatment at a hospital.”

Letter to the Human Rights Commissioner - translation

2008-09-05T05:15:00.005+06:00

Child Abuse Watch Maldives - CAWMFacebook Online Community GroupFacebook Community, World Wide WebMr. Ahmed SaleemThe Human Rights CommissionerSir,The Maldives media has reported yet another case of gang rape of a minor, in this paradise on Earth. This is not even worthy of classification as news in this paradise. It is commonplace.The girl who was molested in the trees by the beach of the fifth

Letter to Human Rights Commission

2008-09-05T03:37:00.012+06:00

ޗައިލްޑް އެބިއުސް ވޮޗް މޯލްޑިވްސް - ސީ.އޭ.ޑަބްލިޔު.އެމް ފޭސްބުކް އޮންލައިން ކޮމިއުނިޓީ ގްރޫޕް ފޭސްބުކް ކޮމިއުނިޓީ، ވާރލްޑް ވައިޑް ވެބް ހިއުމަން ރައިޓްސް ކޮމިޝަންގެ ރައީސް އަލްފާޟިލް އަޙުމަދު ސަލީމް އަށް، މމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމވެދުން ސަލާމަށްފަހު ދަންނަވަމެވެ. މމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމމދުނިޔެމަތީގެ ސުވަރުގެ ކަމުގައި ބުނެވޭ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި

Children's Rights Action Group (CRAG)

2008-06-16T00:42:00.002+06:00

CAWM has started a discussion topic in the Facebook Group (Child Abuse Watch Maldives) to muster volunteers for a possible initiative to engage at the local community level for the rights of children. The proposed objective is to create an caring environment in the local communities for children. The CRAG Initiative is a response from CAWM to suggestions by members to move to the next level; from

Sexual Abuse: A Pastime in Maldives!!!

2008-06-13T04:29:00.006+06:00

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has reported Thursday, that numerous children have been sexually abused in Shaviyani Atoll of the Maldives in two separate cases. These cases are under investigation by MPS.On the 14th of May a 35 year old was arrested in Shaviyani Bileiyfahi, in a case involving the sexual abuse of three children under the age of 15 years. Later four other children were taken in by

Teacher abuse children, seeks compensation and reinstatement!

2008-05-30T13:44:00.002+05:00

Maidhu Daily Online: 30 May 2008A former Ghiyasuddhin school teacher sacked on suspicion of sexual abuse of 12 students has filed a law suit against Education Ministry seeking compensations and reinstatement. Daud Hussain of Shaviyani atoll Milandhoo ex Ghiyasuddhin School teacher who was sacked on suspicion of sexually abusing 12 students is suing the Education Ministry for denial of his rights,

CAWM in the News!

2008-05-28T01:41:00.004+05:00

Minivan NewsMay 27, 2008Since the middle of last year, at least 14 separate cases of child abuse have been reported in the Maldives’ media.The reported cases involved at least eighteen children, of whom eight were under five. Four of the reported cases were gang rapes, and one a homosexual abuse case.In the reported cases, a director at the president’s office, two island chiefs, two imams, one

MNDF Officer in Child Abuse Case

2008-04-07T00:28:00.003+05:00

Minivan News April 6, 2008:A family have accused a lance corporal in the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) of repeatedly abusing their six-year-old child in the capital, Malé, after "grooming” her with gifts and chocolates.The officer has been released from custody pending the case reaching court, and denies the allegations, claiming the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) will "not forward the

Children entertain School Heads close to midnight!

2008-04-06T00:24:00.003+05:00

Tonight, the Heads of School Conference was inaugurated for 275 heads of schools in this country of 300,000 people of which over 50% are said to be school going children. What struck me most was that all these educational leaders and their leadership including the Minister of Education, who is a technocrat though in a politician's chair; sat with the President of the country; to entertain

Male' Family and Children Service Centre!

2008-04-04T11:15:00.003+05:00

Miadhu Daily Online3 April 2008The foundation of the Family and Children Service Centre [building] to be established under the project for the providing decentralized social security services has been laid today. A media official for the Family and Gender Ministry said that the centre would serve the locality of Male'. He also said that 11 such centres has been established since the project

Child Abuser Freed after Rapist Leniency

2008-03-22T20:15:00.005+05:00

Sky News22 March 2008A judge who jailed a man for two years over the rape of a 10-year-old girl has had another child sex case referred to the Court of Appeal. The latest controversy involves a three-year supervision order imposed on a 17-year-old boy who abused two young children. Judge Julian Hall, sitting at Oxford Crown Court, had opted not to jail the teenager because he did not believe him

CAWM on Facebook

2008-02-13T00:20:00.000+05:00

Child Abuse Watch Maldives is currently debating the issue of child abuse and other related issues on Facebook. All interested parties who are members of Facebook are invited to join and share your thoughts.CAWM

World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse

2007-11-19T17:03:00.000+05:00

Today is the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse."Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is a universal and alarming problem and increased attention and efficient protection skills and prevention measures are necessary at family-, local-, national- and international level.After a long tradition of silence, sexual child abuse is being more and more denounced and becoming a public and

Sexual Abuse at Hithadhoo Regional Hospital

2007-11-17T18:17:00.000+05:00

Haveeru reports that a 15 year old girl who went to Hithadhoo Regional Hospital in Addu has been allegedly sexually abused by a physiotherapist there. The person who is alleged to have committed this act is an Indian national working at the hospital. He had asked everyone to keep out of the physiotherapy room and was inside, alone with the girl, when she suddenly screamed and burst out of the

Justice Delayed for Child Abuse Victims!

2007-11-13T13:15:00.000+05:00

Minivan News highlights once again the fate of child abuse victims, and the lack of commitment of the government agencies involved to protect children from sexual abuse.An Imam accused of serial child abuse remains free on his home island, six months after police promised to investigate.Family attempts to bring the case to the attention of authorities in Malé have met with silence, fuelling

Sustained Poverty is Child Abuse

2007-11-12T16:52:00.001+05:00

Let's please tell this story to all responsible and mature people who can understand the underlying issues. We need to take action now.Absolute poverty can push people to the limits! And young children are most vulnerable!

How to Deal with School Violence!

2007-11-08T15:51:00.000+05:00

From mensnewsdaily.comRecently I wrote a post in which I speculated that the reason that liberal female teachers do not prevent classroom violence is rooted in the evolutionary requirement that females yield to rampaging males so that they may live to pass on their genes rather than fight a battle that is sure to get them killed. As usual, most people disagreed with me.A few people protested at

Two arrested in Maduvvari for sexual assault on child

2007-10-05T05:33:00.000+05:00

Police have arrested two people in Raa atoll Maduvvaree on charges of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old child, Ungoofaaru Police Station has said.A Police Officer from the Raa atoll Ungoofaaru Police Station said on Wednesday that they were currently investigating the case and details could not be given about the case at the moment.According to a close friend of the victim’s family the

The Alleged Marriage of an Eleven Year Old in Himandhoo

2007-10-04T01:42:00.000+05:00

Jazeera Daily has reported:The father of an eleven year old girl has been summoned to the Police Post of Himandhoo, to question about the alleged marriage of the girl. The father had refused to take the girl in for questioning as she is a minor, according to her mother.The mother also told Jazeera that the allegation was false and baseless. And she has said that the child has been frightened by

The Girl in a Wheel Chair "parked" outside the Mosque

2007-10-02T23:30:00.000+05:00

The other day a girl in a wheel chair was "parked" in front of the gate to Orchid Magu, Bandaara Miskiiy. She was there when people came out of the mosque after the Asr prayers. She was in the heat of the sun.A person wearing a mundu and a shirt came and wheeled her away after the prayers. He probably had gone into the mosque for prayers leaving the girl there.The man is seen quite often around

"Worst Child Abuse Case" Uncovered

2007-10-01T02:50:00.000+05:00

Tampa Bay Online (TBO.com) has reported:PINELLAS PARK - A 12-year-old boy, his body battered and burned, was kept in an empty bedroom with no furniture and only a bucket to relieve himself.Authorities said Friday that if the boy tried to come out of the room, an ironing board propped up against the door would fall, sounding an alert. Pulled out of school last year, he was told to simply read the

The Child is to Blame: Media Attitude to Abuse

2007-09-29T01:08:00.000+05:00

Jazeera Daily in Male' reported on September 26th that they have been told by the Maldives Police Services that the investigation of the "horrendous" rape of a young girl by a person now named as Ahmed Muhsin will be ready for sending to the Attorney General's Office within two weeks. This is nearly two months after the actual rape occured, and one and a half months after investigation started.

Experts Warn Against Child Abuse due to Internet Misuse

2007-09-25T11:39:00.000+05:00

Bayanihan.org reports:Internet misuse worldwide is helping strip children of their right to a dignified existence, University of North Carolina professor and developmental pediatrics expert Dr. Sharon Cooper has said."Over nine million images of child pornography are on the Internet and about six percent of these are of infants and toddlers," she said Monday during a presentation at the 7th Asian

Battling Online Child Porn

2007-09-23T12:33:00.001+05:00

Bangkok Post reports: Vienna (dpa) - Pictures flicker across a computer screen. A little girl, no more than five or six. Bound and tortured. Raped. Begging Daddy to stop. Horror fiction? No - an ever more alarming reality. "Eighty per cent of the abuse seen in online child porn is done by people the children know," said Leila Ben Debba, of ICMEC, theInternational Centre for Missing and Exploited

Coach faces sexual abuse charges!

2007-09-23T01:30:00.000+05:00

Yakima Herald reports:As Yakima Valley parents struggle with news that a popular youth coach faces charges of sexually assaulting one of his players, a mental health counselor said they should maintain communication with their children."We should always be involved with our kids in whatever they are doing -- school, sports, visiting their little friends. I think it's better to keep those lines of

Babysitter's child for a 12 year old!

2007-09-21T20:19:00.000+05:00

Brisbane Times reports:A 12-year-old schoolgirl gave birth to her babysitter's child, a court has heard. [...] Matthew James Vernon, 29, of Ballarat East, had sex with the girl at least twice while babysitting at her home. [...] The [child's mother] said her daughter was also torn between wanting to be a mother and a child."(The baby) calls me mum, which hurts (my daughter). I know in my own

A Case of Sexual Abuse in Brisbane

2007-09-19T22:04:00.000+05:00

Brisbane Times has repoted that the Education Department has investigated claims that a six-year-old student ran a "sex club" in a suburban primary school involving a dozen grade one students.The news item has significance to us in how the society reacts to such incidents in a civilized country like Australia. It also brings to our attention how the authorities, the media, parents and other

Taking infants for a ride! Can the government restrict it?

2007-09-17T00:06:00.000+05:00

AafathisNET reports that an accident involving a motorist who had taken an infant for a ride without the mandatory safety jacket. Apparently the accident did not result in any fatal injuries as both motorist had been riding at low speeds.The report argues that the streets of Male' are heavily packed with traffic and therefore not quite safe for riding with infants especially without the mandatory

Does Islam Perpetuate Child Abuse

2007-09-16T14:00:00.001+05:00

CAWM would like to remain indepdent. However, the following comment from Anonymous is quite inaccurate and does not reflect the faith of Islam nor of its Prophet Muhammadh (PBUH)."Islam is perpetuating a large amount of child abuse because Mohammed is the perfect man in the eyes of muslims. He "married" babies and commited child abuse." Anonymous Child abuse knows no legal, social or religous

Sex Video of Nine Year Old

2007-09-15T16:44:00.001+05:00

Jazeera has reported that they have come across a video of a man having sex with a nine year old girl on. Apparently the girl has consented to the sex act and it is not the first time as evident from the video, the paper reported. Maldives Police Service said they are investigating the matter.CAWM is very concerned that nothing will come out of the MPS investigation. They are not recongnized for

Three Year Old Dead in Bandidhoo

2007-09-13T16:52:00.000+05:00

A small child is reported to have died by falling into an open pit. Maldives Police Service is reported to have said that the girl was found dead in an open pit prepared for the intallation of a tube well, around 12.15 pm, on Thursady, the first day of Ramadan.Dead: Dhunya Moosa, Rihivelige, Bandidhoo, 3 yearsRelated Links:Haveeru /

President Nelson Mandela on Chld Abuse

2007-09-11T09:35:00.000+05:00

SANTAC reports that President Mandela said:The Abuse of children has become a question worldwide in various forms. [...] One of the problems, as I think and I would like to mention here, is that many of the people who abuse children are parents, uncles and breadwinners and that the wife, although she knows what is happening, does not want to report this matter because it might lead to the arrest

GMA Declares War on Child Abuse

2007-09-10T09:49:00.000+05:00

Manila Standard Today reports:President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed Proclamation 1137 declaring “Child Abuse Prevention Year” until October 2007, making the Philippines the first country to issue such a declaration. “It is time to take concrete actions nationwide to stop the threats to the health and welfare of our children,” Mrs. Arroyo said during the launching of the year-long program

Change of Addressee of the Petition and the Letter

2007-09-10T02:19:00.000+05:00

We would like to inform all those who have already signed our petition to the Chief Justice to the Minister of Justice is on the basis of legal advise given to CAWM by a legal expert. He said that the judges of lower courts do not come under the Chief Justice. They are neither required to report to the Minister of Justice in relation to the cases they are assigned to look into, yet the Minister

CAWM Mailing List

2007-09-08T03:01:00.000+05:00

We have setup a Yahoo! Groups mailing list for CAWM. Members/subscribers to the mailing list can get messages sent to the group, to their subscribed email address. Non-members also can send messages to the group. In addition, anyone can view the archive of messages sent to the group address, via the web interface.The group's URL is:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cawmaldivesFeel free to subscribe

Justice Ministry trying to appease public fears

2007-09-08T00:33:00.000+05:00

Justice Ministry is reported to have proposed amendments to the Judicial Procedures Manual article 173 which defines judgements for sexual offenses. The proposed changes have been submitted to the Attorney General (who does not exist at this moment) for his advise. We are not quite sure of the legality of a person who does not legally exist.This seems to be more a series of PR stunts by the

THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

2007-09-07T08:56:00.000+05:00

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 25& 26) Everyone has the right a standard of living adequate for ... health and well-being.... Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children ... shall enjoy the same social protection.... Everyone has the right to education...." <

We Stand Against all forms of Abuse of Children

2007-09-06T20:21:00.000+05:00

CAWM Petition to the Chief Justice

2007-09-06T16:59:00.000+05:00

A petition to the Chief Justice against child abuse leniency and "illiteracy" of the Maldivian Judges to the Rights of Children and civilized human values in general, has been put on ipetitions by CAWM. We would appreciate your support to the petition.http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cawm001/Thank you, CAWM

Recap: Blast from Commitments in the Past

2007-09-06T15:28:00.000+05:00

The Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Security, Republic of Maldives; speaking at the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Children, 8-10 May 2002, New York; said, "Mr. President.Some of the major challenges before my country today include the geographical severity, diseconomies of scale due to the scattered nature of the population, strains on the family unit due to

Letter to Chief Justice

2007-09-05T16:04:00.000+05:00

CAWM has drafter a letter to be sent to the Chief Justice by individuals who are interested in lobbying for a more responsible Judiciary.If you send a mail to cawmaldives@gmail.com with "Letter to Chief Justice" in the subject you will receive the template of the letter shortly.You may send the letter to Chief Justice by registered / fast post so that a record is kept and further lobby action

Educating the "illiterate" Judges of Maldives!

2007-09-04T15:08:00.000+05:00

Haveeru reports that the verdict of the Criminal Court in the case of the four who raped a 12 year old girl in Kurendhu of Lhaviyani Atoll will be appealed by the Attorney General.The court had passed a verdict on the four people of having sex with a minor and sentenced them to 8 months banishment. The magistrate had noted according to the report:The girl has reached puberty when the rape occured

Inaya ... cyber harassers targeting local girls!

2007-09-03T13:59:00.000+05:00

Inaya says, in her Haveeru feature:It is one thing to take funny pictures and share it with friends and laugh at the good times, but quite another thing when those same pictures are on the web for the viewing pleasures of perverts, pedophiles and god knows what else!This is a reality for growing up girls as well as young boys in our midst. It is very important that we refrain from supporting such

Four suspects to be handed over to AG Office

2007-09-03T00:02:00.000+05:00

Jazeera has reported that the investigation of the gang who raped and sexually abused a girl in Villingili, a satellite island of Male', eight minutes from the main island; will be completed shortly and the case rested with the Attorney General's Office.It was shocking to us, that the news item started by labelling the girl as a runaway, which will make people look down on her and doubt her

President for a Speedy Solution to Child Abuse!

2007-09-02T00:20:00.000+05:00

"[...] The third issue that the President highlighted in his address was that of the rights of children and recent reports of cases of abuse against children. He emphasised that we, as a society, should be ashamed that such incidents were happening in the Maldives. He said that the issue warranted the attention of all the people, and that a speedy solution must be found on a nationwide scale. He

A seven year old boy in ICU: condition is not so serious!

2007-09-01T23:47:00.000+05:00

Haveeru Online has reported that a seven year old boy has been admitted to the ICU due to severe head injuries caused by an accident with a motorcyle while crossing the link road in Addu Atoll, near Hankede. A hospital official is reported to have said the boy in ICU with head injuries and a fracture to the right hand "is not so serious". [Sick attitude! Typical of doctors here!]The motorcycle

A thirteen year old is drowned to death

2007-09-01T14:26:00.000+05:00

Haveeru Online reported that a 13 year old boy has drowned to death August 31, 2007. Several children have drowned in the past few months. The boy is from Huvarafushi in Haa Alifu Atoll. He did not know how to swim. The government announced a program to teach all children to swim, following the death of a CHSE student by drowning. Haveeru has reported that so far seven Maldivians have died by

Report on Physical Abuse of Children

2007-09-01T00:23:00.000+05:00

One of the definitions of child abuse is: the physical mistreatment of children.There are no published accounts or reports of child abuse in the Maldives. Therefore, it is indeed very difficult to hold an unbiased account of the issue. The literature that is available is either published by the government or in the local print media which is more opinion and heresay based than through

Define, question & take action!

2007-08-30T03:22:00.000+05:00

If the following are acceptable definitions of child abuse,the neglect or mistreatment of a child the physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of childrenany form of cruelty to a child's physical, moral or mental well-being Each of us need to ask himself/herself,Didi I mistreat a child? Have I neglected a child? Have I been cruel to a child? And, we need to make a commitment to, to care for

Is this how they respond?

2007-08-28T19:48:00.000+05:00

Yesterday I called Gender Ministry with regards to the leaflet which RFA published with joint efforts with Gender Ministry. I wanted to request for a soft copy of the leaflet.I was greeted with a rude hello and when I asked who was on the line he asked in a rude voice, who I wanted to talk to. I explained him that I wanted to speak to a senior official and if he was one. His reply was, "Yes! I am

Distorting the Child Abuse Issue

2007-08-28T13:36:00.000+05:00

Yesterday the hot issue on the "Ten to Eleven" show jointly broadcast by TVM and VOM was the article in Haveeru by Hilath Rasheed, which CAWM had highlighted in one of our earlier posts. The show was broadcast live 2200 - 2300 hrs. Having tuned into the show , we felt the show did much to distort the issue of child abuse especially sexual abuse of children rather than highlight actual concerns,

RFA against Child Abuse

2007-08-27T00:03:00.000+05:00

Local NGO Rights for All launched a child abuse awareness campaign on Friday. They handed out leaflets at the artificial beach and around the Children's Park near Kalaafaanu School. The leaflet described different forms of child abuse including: physical abuse, phsychological abuse, sexual abuse. It als described very briefly the consequences of child abuse: becoming suicidal, addiction to drugs,

Abuse and Domestic Violence

2007-08-26T15:09:00.000+05:00

Did you know that incest is the most common form of child abuse in the Maldives?Contrary to the dominant view that a pedophile is a stranger lurking among the crowd to hunt a child for sexual gratification, most pedophiles live with the children. And victims include girls and boys. Pedophiles are either related to the child by blood or marriage. Most of them are their own fathers, brothers,

Publish your thoughts on CAWM!

2007-08-25T22:16:00.000+05:00

We would like to take this opportunity to have your thoughts and views on child abuse as well as how to deal with and prevent child abuse, published on Child Abuse Watch Maldives. These are indeed the very early days of CAWM. We hope to be able to do much, so we need the support of as many, who can contribute. You can publish your posts on CAWM by emailing them to cawmaldives.smile@blogger.com

After Affects of Child Abuse

2007-08-25T13:07:00.000+05:00

A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal.Some children who have been sexually abused have difficulty relating to others except on sexual terms. Some sexually abused children become child abusers or